volunteering in Philly

[iowagirl7]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm going to start volunteering at a hospital in philly this summer and I'm wondering if anyone knows which hospitals give you a good experience. I go to Penn and I would apply at HUP, but I know a lot of people that have applied and it's taken over 6 months before they get to start and they even lost one of my friends application and proof of vaccination documents so she had to start over. Are there any hospitals in Philly who start you reletively soon after you apply and have been especially fulfilling for volunteers? thanks!

 

[NewmansOwn]

I'm going to start volunteering at a hospital in philly this summer and I'm wondering if anyone knows which hospitals give you a good experience. I go to Penn and I would apply at HUP, but I know a lot of people that have applied and it's taken over 6 months before they get to start and they even lost one of my friends application and proof of vaccination documents so she had to start over. Are there any hospitals in Philly who start you reletively soon after you apply and have been especially fulfilling for volunteers? thanks!

Yeah, I imagine HUP is pretty inundated. I'm starting at Bryn Mawr for postbac in a few months and I know they send students to work at JeffHOPE, which is Jefferson's network of free clinics. You should try there -- you can't go wrong with a little altruism, I imagine. Also nearby are Jefferson Hospital, Temple University Hospital and MCP/Hahnemann. They might be less in demand, volunteer-wise, than HUP, but I can't say I'm too sure.

Depending on where you live or how far you're willing to go, right off City Line Ave near Overbrook/Lower Merion is Lankenau Hospital, which is a beautiful suburban tertiary care center that would probably give you good exposure.

 

[fireflygirl]

I agree with Newman - why not check out the smaller hospitals where they are not as inundated with applications. Also, I have heard that often times, a lot of volunteers are disappointed with their responsibilities since they give you limited access to patient care. I have two friends that left CHOP volunteer for this reason.

On the other hand, I would check out and see if you can get into Hollander's Emergency Medicine Class. When I took it, most of the people were undergrads. That gives you great access to research and patient care and you get credit and experience for it. And if you like the class you can continue on the research in the second class he runs. I know he runs the class over the summer but I would check to see if he runs the clinical class in the summer or just during the school year.

 

[Lokhtar]

Go to a community hospital, IMO. You'll get a much better experience, and might get to do more as they aren't inundated with applications.

 

[blackadder]

Yeah, I imagine HUP is pretty inundated. I'm starting at Bryn Mawr for postbac in a few months and I know they send students to work at JeffHOPE, which is Jefferson's network of free clinics. You should try there -- you can't go wrong with a little altruism, I imagine. Also nearby are Jefferson Hospital, Temple University Hospital and MCP/Hahnemann. They might be less in demand, volunteer-wise, than HUP, but I can't say I'm too sure.

Depending on where you live or how far you're willing to go, right off City Line Ave near Overbrook/Lower Merion is Lankenau Hospital, which is a beautiful suburban tertiary care center that would probably give you good exposure.

Agree with the above posters--getting into a smaller hospital around here is easier.

As far as good spots to volunteer as a BM postbac--I REALLY recommend looking at Bryn Mawr Hospital. Many students in our program volunteer there and really enjoy it. It's also within walking distance of campus and this convenience cannot be stressed enough--driving around (and getting in and out of) the main line is time consuming.

Other popular options include working in a low income/free clinic (all different flavors, but if you speak Spanish a lot of doors will open for you here), volunteering at a hospice, working for an ambulance company, etc.

If you do have your heart set on a certain hospital, HUP for example, you might try contacting a specific doctor there whose research or specialty interests you to see if you can shadow them and maybe network into something that way.